Key themes to watch at Book 1

No Nay Never fever

What a couple of weeks it’s been for Coolmore’s flying freshman No Nay Never. His leading performer Ten Sovereigns confirmed his promise when taking the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket to hand No Nay Never a coveted Group 1 winner from his first crop.

At the Goffs Orby Sale, Coolmore showed strong support for the son of Scat Daddy, going to €700,000 for a filly from the family of High Chaparral offered by Flash Conroy’s Glenvale Stud.

Heading into Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, there is an understandable buzz around his second crop and buyers will have ten opportunities to snap up his stock at Newmarket.

It was at this edition of the sale last year where his most expensive yearling was sold, when a half-brother to Group 1 victor The Wow Signal was snapped up by JS Company for 850,000gns.

Given No Nay Never’s rapid ascendance, that top price could well be broken during the three days of trade.

Phoenix to continue big spending?

Since emerging onto the global bloodstock scene last year, Phoenix Thoroughbred has taken many by surprise and it did so again at the Goffs Orby Sale when outbidding Coolmore at €2 million for a sister to three-time Group 1 heroine Alice Springs.

In the immediate aftermath Dermot Farrington, who signed the docket for Phoenix Thoroughbred, revealed that the operation is trying to increase both numbers and quality of purchases.

A day later, Phoenix once again outbid Coolmore in the ring during the second session, when the sister to Oaks winners Forever Together and Together Forever came on the market.

Phoenix now taking flight: Amer Abdulaziz Salman on the operation’s rise

Bidding opened at €200,000 before climbing higher and higher, sealing the deal at a record €3.2 million.

At Book 1 last year, the organisation went home with two yearlings – a 600,000-guinea son of Lope De Vega and a Sea The Stars colt from the family of Elle Danzig who cost one million guineas.

Given their exploits across the Irish Sea, expect them to make bold plays for high quality stock.

Dubawi vs Galileo

The two heavyweights of their respective studs have filled the top positions on the leading sire list at Book 1 for the last four years, with Darley’s flagship sire Dubawi having claimed the top spot for the last two years.

Between 2008 and 2015 Galileo was the dominant force and all eyes will be on who will be the leading stallion in 2018.

This year both Dubawi and Galileo have 21 yearlings apiece for buyers to choose from. That could mean that things are closer than ever before between the two and it will be interesting to see which of them comes out on top in the ring.

Showcasing his ability

Whitsbury Manor Stud’s Showcasing began his stallion career at a fee of £5,000 back in 2011 and since then, the exploits of his stock have seen him command a price of £35,000 for the last two years.

The son of Oasis Dream had two yearlings from his first crop sell in 2013 and this year he will have his largest draft at Book 1 to date with seven yearlings, which underlines his rise through the ranks.

With Advertise having won the Phoenix Stakes in August to become his second Group 1 winner after the talented Quiet Reflection, and a sister to recent Nunnery Stud recruit Tasleet becoming his most expensive yearling when selling for €850,000 at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, Showcasing has hit a purple patch.

Of his seven lots to go under the hammer over the three days, one to keep an eye on is Coln Valley Stud’s colt (Lot 394), who is a half-brother to Group 3 Musidora Stakes winner Give And Take and hails from the family of the late Gold Cup hero Fame And Glory.

Chance to snap up sole offering from popular sire line

Yarraman Park Stud’s I Am Invincible reached a new peak this year when his fee for 2018 was unveiled as Aus$192,500 (£104,000) to become the second-highest priced stallion in Australia behind Snitzel.

The son of Invincible Spirit has been on an upward trajectory and was back in the headlines last month thanks to talented filly Oohood, who broke her maiden in stunning fashion in the Group 1 Darley Flight Stakes.

At Book 1, buyers will have a chance to buy into this popular sire line through I Am Invincible’s son Brazen Beau when the first European-bred progeny of the Darley shuttler come on the market.

His first yearlings in Australia were extremely well received, including a Aus$700,000 filly at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

He only has one yearling catalogued for Book 1, a colt out of the Dansili mare Jaiyana (Lot 423) who hails from the family of multiple Group 1 performer Time Charter.

Records were ripped up at Book 1 last year. Here’s what’s in store